xxv, 368 pages : 25 cm

Historian and New York Times bestselling author Crowley presents the epic story of the emergence of Portugal, a small, poor nation that enjoyed a century of maritime supremacy thanks to the daring and navigational skill of its explorers--a tactical advantage no other country could match

The epic story of the emergence of Portugal, a small, poor nation that enjoyed a century of maritime supremacy thanks to the daring and navigational skill of its explorers--a tactical advantage no other country could match. Portugal's discovery of a sea route to India, campaign of imperial conquest over Muslim rulers, and domination of the spice trade would forever disrupt the Mediterranean and build the first global economy. Author Crowley relies on letters and eyewitness testimony to tell the story of tiny Portugal's rapid and breathtaking rise to power. Conquerors reveals the Império Português in all of its splendor and ferocity. Figures such as King Manuel "the Fortunate," João II "the Perfect Prince," marauding governor Afonso de Albuquerque, and explorer Vasco da Gama juggled their private ambitions and the public aims of the empire in pursuit of a global fortune. Also central to the story was Portugal's drive to eradicate Islamic culture and establish a Christian empire in the Indian Ocean. Portuguese explorers pushed deep into the African continent and ruthlessly besieged Indian port cities. The discovery of a route to India around the horn of Africa was not only a brilliant breakthrough in navigation but heralded a complete upset of the world order. For the next century, no European empire was more ambitious, no rulers more rapacious. In the process they created the first long-range maritime empire and set in motion the forces of globalization that now shape our world.--Adapted from book jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages [327]-351) and index

The prow of Europe -- Reconnaissance : the route to the Indies. The India plan ; The race ; Vasco da Gama ; "The Devil take you!" ; The Samudri -- Contest : monopolies and holy war. Cabral ; The fate of the Miri ; Fury and vengeance ; Toeholds ; The Kingdom of India ; The great whore of Babylon ; "The terrible" ; Three days at Chaul ; "The wrath of the Franks" ; Diu -- Conquest : the Lion of the Sea. The doors of the Samudri ; "What the Portuguese win they never give up" ; Prisoners of the rain ; The uses of terror ; To the eye of the sun ; The wax bullet ; "All the riches of the world in your hands" ; The last voyage ; "They never stop in one place"

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